Twice as many Swiss now ask AI about their symptoms
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The 2026 CSS Health Study shows chatbots are fast becoming part of how people in Switzerland manage their health, from checking symptoms to coping with loneliness.
Not feeling well? More and more people in Switzerland now ask a chatbot before they call a doctor. According to the 2026 CSS Health Study, 42% of respondents have used an AI chatbot to interpret their symptoms. That’s double last year’s 20%.
The study was carried out by the Sotomo research institute for the health insurer CSS, surveying 2,459 people across Switzerland’s language regions. It shows the trend reaching every age group. Among young adults, 62% have used AI to check symptoms. Among people over 65, the share tripled, from 10% to 30%.
A supplement, not a substitute
Chatbots aren’t replacing doctors yet. Doctors, internet searches and friends and family are still people’s main sources of health information. But AI is catching up: 28% now name chatbots as a key source for physical symptoms (up from 18%), and 16% for psychological ones (up from 11%). The study also points to a more personal role. Among isolated people who use AI for personal matters, 27% say it made them feel less alone. Almost one in five personal AI users have told a chatbot something they’ve never told anyone else. Meanwhile, only 50% now turn to relatives when they are in psychological distress, the lowest share since 2022.
Is digital harming health?
Young people are the most critical of digital technology. 44% of 18–35-year-olds think their use of digital media harms their long-term health, compared with just 8% of over-65s. Overall, people feel healthier this year: 66% rate their health as good or very good, up from 62%. Diet is gaining ground as a perceived driver of serious disease, now tied with genetics at 59%. Even so, only 22% say they eat five portions of fruit and vegetables a day. And 76% support mandatory labels showing how processed a food is.
For digital health innovators, the message is clear. Patients are already using AI, and they’re doing it on their own. The opportunity now is to build tools that are reliable, safe and connected to professional care.
➡️ Source: CSS Health Study 2026 | 📸 ©